A large collective of Womens Rights organisations came together this year to plan and celebrate International Women's Day on 8th March, 2018, by marching together in Delhi from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar to highlight the issues of women.

The issues focused on by the multitude of organisations were:

Socio-Economic and Political Justice

The Women's Reservation Bill pending in the Lok Sabha to be tabled on a priority basis.

Women and girls must be recognised as equals within the domestic sphere, the community, socio-political and work spaces.

The policy makers do not turn a blind eye to the report released by the Niti Aayog on the need to check sex-selective abortion. The sex ratio at birth (SRB) saw a decline in 17 out of 21 large states of the country, with Gujarat recording an alarming dip of 53 points.

Freedom from discrimination and invisibilisation for women with disabilities and their right to access all spaces - both public and private.

Increase in employment opportunities for women.

Equal pay for equal work.

Safety of all women workers in the unorganised and organised sectors: in fields, quarries, on construction sites, in factories, on the streets, in educational institutions, offices, on public transport and of course, inside their own home.

End to the inhuman practice of manual scavenging.

Affirmation of the meaning of consent on all platforms - judicial, socio-legal, personal, professional and political, so that women can live their lives with dignity, bodily integrity and respect.

Repeal of draconian laws such as UAPA and AFSPA accompanied by demilitarisation, especially in the North-Eastern states, Kashmir and Chhattisgarh to eventually usher in an atmosphere of peace and not mistrust and war.

End to Gender-based Violence

Recognition of marital rape as a crime and its inclusion in the IPC.

An end to the impunity of religious heads who misuse their power to sexually harass and assault women and girls.

Stopping the practice of khatna (or khafd) or female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C), that is prevalent in a few communities in India.

Transgender people accessing their rights as citizens, including the right to life, equality, dignity, safety and livelihood.

Protection of the human rights of the women in sex work and ensuring their meaningful participation in all discussions that impact them, including reviewing laws, policies and social entitlements.

Liberty of Thought, Belief, Expression, Faith and Worship

Freedom to express thoughts and dissent and question policies, without being tagged as unpatriotic and anti-national, and the sword of Damocles of colonial, archaic sedition laws perpetually hanging over one’s heads. An end to the systematic targeting of university students across the country.

Freedom for women to take a new faith by choice as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and to decide on a partner of her own choice, without fear of coercion from family, community, political parties, the judiciary and the state.

No more moral policing or “(dis)honour” killings!

Gender justice and equality in all laws including personal laws.

Consultation with women’s organisations on the bill to purportedly provide protection to Muslim women from triple talaq. Also refer the bill to a parliamentary select committee.

WeSpeakOut, represented by Masooma Ranalvi, marched alongside hundreds of women and raised the demand to outlaw FGM in India.